Rowland’s 1995
Personalized
Matt Rowland’s XJ mods weren’t inspired by an off-road mishap. Nope, he just had the urge to fire up the reciprocating saw and Rowlandize the rig.
The entire stock front end of the XJ has been removed and replaced by a tube frame made from 1¾-inch-diameter, 0.120-inch-wall material. He also lopped off a sizeable chunk of the rear of the rig and created a new structure from the same aforementioned tubing. Under what was left of the body he beefed the “frame” for added strength. The new rollcage/chassis all ties together for sturdiness. Other exterior mods include driving lights, a Warn M8000 winch, and a set of bald “fourth generation owner” 39x13.50-17 BFGoodrich Krawlers mounted on 9-inch-wide steel wheels with weld-on beadlocks.
Inside, plastic racing seats with five-point harnesses contain passengers and a set of custom shifters allow Rowland to control the Atlas transfer case and the automatic transmission. A Grant GT steering wheel allows him point the XJ where it needs to go.
The custom tubework at the rear of the rig serves as the upper mounting point for the King coilover shocks and their reservoirs. It also houses the 15-gallon aluminum fuel cell and a variety of lights that help retain the rig’s street-legal status.
The XJs original engine expired, so Rowland replaced it with this 4.0L I-6 he sourced from a salvage yard. It has been bored 0.060 over and is cooled by an aluminum radiator. It’s mated to the stock AW4 automatic transmission. An Advance Adapters Atlas II 4.3:1 ratio transfer case splits the power to the axles.
The rear axle is a full-width Eaton unit that was pirated from a mud truck that Rowland purchased. It has disc brakes, 5.38:1 ratio ring-and-pinion, and welded spider gears. The suspension consists of a spherical rod end-equipped, chromoly four-link system with King 14-inch-travel remote-reservoir coilovers. Limiting straps reign in the droop.
The front full-width Dana 60 axle is also from the mud truck, and it has been fitted with a Detroit Locker and Warn lockout hubs. The suspension is a spherical rod end-equipped, chromoly three-link with track bar and King 14-inch-travel remote-reservoir coilovers. The steering system is hydraulic and uses PSC components and a tie rod with spherical rod ends.
The Details
General
Owner/Hometown: Matt Rowland/Fort Wayne, Indiana
Vehicle/Model: ’95 Jeep Cherokee XJ
Estimated value: “Too much”
Engine
Type: Jeep 4.0L I-6
Aspiration: Fuel injection
Output, hp/torque (estimated): N/A
Drivetrain
Transmission: AW4 4-spd auto
Transfer case: Advance Adapters Atlas II 4.3:1
Suspension
Front: Three-link, track bar, King 14-in-travel remote-reservoir coilovers
Rear: Four-link, King 14-in-travel remote-reservoir coilovers
Axles/Differentials
Front: Dana 60/Detroit Locker
Rear: Eaton/welded
Ring and pinion: 5.38:1
Wheels/Tires
Wheels: 17x9 steel w/weld-on beadlocks
Tires: 39x13.50-17 BFGoodrich Krawler
Rowland Says ...
Favorite mod: “Tube front ‘frame’ replacing the uniframe, built by Budweiser.”
Least favorite mod: “Built by Budweiser, big dumb and heavy (like the owner).”
If I was going to do it again…: “Tube chassis. ’Nuff said.”
Rafferty’s ’00
Logical reasoning
Sean Rafferty had a number of logical reasons to power up the reciprocating saw. For one, the rear hatch on his ’00 XJ was out of whack due to trail damage and it was being held closed with a bungee cord. And then there was the fact that he wanted to install a rollcage and it would be a lot easier if the rear of the vehicle was wide open. Finally, he says there was peer pressure from his fellow NAXJA members.
The ’cage is a D and C Extreme unit that Rafferty modified and it ties to the vehicle in numerous places, directly into homemade frame stiffeners in most cases. The rig has a Badland 12,000-pound winch mounted to a custom front bumper that’s made from 2x4-inch, 3⁄8-inch-thick square tubing. The rear bumper is also custom and made from the same material. A set of modified AJ’s Offroad Armor rocker skids protect the factory rockers. The rig rolls on a set of 33x12.50-15 General Grabber MT tires mounted on 15x10 steel wheels. Power comes from a stock 4.0L Six and its routed through the stock AW4 four-speed automatic transmission to the stock NP231 transfer case.
The interior is by far the most stock of this quartet of XJs. But Rafferty and his wife Laura are protected by a full rollcage and held in place by the stock seatbelts, which will undoubtedly protect them even if the rig tumbles down an embankment. (Proven during Winterfest.)
Rafferty made the rear bumper with hitch receiver and D-ring mounts as well as the diamond-plate cab corners. Here you can see how the rollcage offers a solid mount for the spare tire and how the ’cage affixes to the rear of the rig. It was modified to help support the bodysides after the portion of roof was removed.
The front suspension is a compilation of products from three different manufacturers. There are Rock Krawler 6.5-inch-lift coil springs, Rubicon Express link arms and drop brackets, and Rancho shocks. The axle is a Dana 44 from a fullsize Jeep Wagoneer and it has Yukon chromoly axleshafts, a Detroit Locker, 4.88:1 ratio gears, and Warn lockout hubs. Finally, the steering system uses spherical rod ends on the drag link and tie rod.
The rear axle is also from a fullsize Jeep Wagoneer and it has been fitted with disc brakes, a spool, 4.88:1 ratio gears, and Dutchman Motorsports alloy axleshafts. The suspension is a simple leaf-spring setup and the leaf packs are a combination of XJ and Dodge Dakota leaves. Rancho shocks round out the suspension. Here you can also see the fuel tank skidplate Rafferty made from ¼-inch steel.
The Details
General
Owner/Hometown: Sean Rafferty/Roscoe, Illinois
Vehicle/Model: ’00 Jeep Cherokee XJ
Estimated value: $3,500
Engine
Type: Jeep 4.0L I-6
Aspiration: Fuel injection, homemade air intake
Output, hp/torque (estimated): N/A
Drivetrain
Transmission: AW4 4-spd auto
Transfer case: NP231
Suspension
Front: 6.5-in-lift Rock Krawler coil springs, Rubicon Express link arms and drop brackets, Rancho shocks
Rear: Custom leaf springs, Rancho shocks
Axles/Differentials
Front: Dana 44/Detroit Locker
Rear: Dana 44/Spool
Ring and pinion: 4.88:1
Wheels/Tires
Wheels: 15x10 steel w/weld-on beadlocks
Tires: 33x12.50-15 General Grabber MT
Rafferty Says ...
Favorite mod: “Armor and rollcage.”
Least favorite mod: “Rear spool (hard to turn).”
If I was going to do it again…: “Nothing.”